Defence Security Report – Twelve ships face axe in US budget cuts

USS Anzio (CG 68) in one of the nine Ticonderoga-class cruisers the US Navy is planning to retire in FY13 and FY14.(IHS Jane’s/Leo Van Ginderen Collection).

By Sam LaGrone, Jane’s Defence News, 10/24/2011 —

The US Navy is planning to retire nine Ticonderoga-class cruisers and three Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships (LSDs) in Fiscal Years 2013 (FY13) and 2014 as austerity measures hit the Department of Defense (DoD).

In an internal email obtained by Jane’s , navy budget planners have listed the ships that are earmarked for decommissioning as the Pentagon seeks to reduce its spending by USD450 billion during the next 10 years.

Navy spokesperson Lieutenant Courtney Hillson told Jane’s that the service would not comment on any budget-related fleet changes before the DoD’s spending plans are released in early 2012.